About helper applications

When you go to an Internet address or download a file to your computer, you can specify which application you want to handle the file. The application you specify is called a helper. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can specify protocol helpers and file helpers.

About Internet addresses

Changing your default e-mail or news application

Assigning a helper application to a protocol

Assigning a helper application to a file type

Installing a plug-in

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Change your default e-mail or news application

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Network, click Protocol Helpers.
  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Click Change.
  5. Click Choose Helper.
  6. Click the application you want to use, and then click Open.
  7. Click OK.

Note To send and receive e-mail messages, you need an e-mail account.

Entering your e-mail settings

About helper applications

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Enter your e-mail settings

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under E-mail, click General.
  3. In the Real name box, type the name you want to appear in the From field of your outgoing messages.
  4. In the E-mail address box, type your e-mail address.
  5. In the SMTP host box, type the name of your outgoing mail server.

Note Microsoft Internet Explorer uses these e-mail settings when you submit information, such as a Web form, to a Web site by e-mail. You need an e-mail application and an e-mail account to send and receive e-mail messages.
Tip If you don’t know the name of your outgoing mail server (SMTP host), your Internet service provider (ISP) can give you this information.

Changing your default e-mail or news application

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Assign a helper application to a protocol

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Network, click Protocol Helpers.
  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Click Choose Helper.
  5. Click the application you want to assign to the protocol, and then click Open.
  6. If you want Microsoft Internet Explorer to use an open application rather than the assigned helper, when possible, select the Use current application if possible check box.
  7. Click OK.

Tip To sort the list of protocols, click a column heading.

Changing your default e-mail or news application

Assigning a helper application to a file type

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Assign a helper application to a file type

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Receiving Files, click File Helpers.
  3. Do one of the following:
  4. Select the options you want, and then click OK.

Note If you install a plug-in, Microsoft Internet Explorer automatically updates the file helpers that the plug-in can use. If applicable, Internet Explorer also creates a new file helper for the plug-in.
Tip To sort the list of file types, click a column heading.

Installing a plug-in

Enabling or disabling plug-ins

Changing download settings

Assigning a helper application to a protocol

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Enable or disable plug-ins

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Under Web Browser, click Web Content.
  3. In the Active Content area, select or clear the Enable plug-ins check box.

Installing a plug-in

Assigning a helper application to a file type

About Java and active content

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Install a plug-in

  1. Download the plug-in from the Internet, or locate the plug-in on your hard disk.
  2. Move or copy the plug-in to the Plug-ins folder in the folder that contains the Internet Explorer application.

Note If you install a plug-in, Microsoft Internet Explorer automatically updates the file helpers that the plug-in can use. If applicable, Internet Explorer also creates a new file helper for the plug-in.

Enabling or disabling plug-ins

Assigning a helper application to a file type

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